Sometimes, college recruiting turns into a non-stop whirlwind of phone calls, letters and fighting to get commitments from recruits. That's true in D1 football or NAIA soccer.

Likewise, a lot of coaches get bogged down in the details of recruiting. Those phone calls, letters and fighting to get commitments often result in lists, contact tracking...all of the stuff that takes a toll on giving your recruits that personal touch they crave.

That toll can also result in the loss of key recruits. Especially the ones that have a number of schools pursuing them...how do they choose between the offers? More often than not, it comes down to a "personal connection" they feel with a coach at a certain school.

One great example of a coach who has the "personal connections" thing down cold is Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer. Coach Beamer has to compete with other ACC powerhouse programs like Florida State. And yet, with his school tucked away in the Appalachian mountains, Beamer is competing with other more prolific programs.

How does he do it? By making those coveted "personal connections."

An example that sticks out in my mind is when Coach Beamer recruited Victor Harris by making a personal connection. Harris, who is a starter for Virginia Tech, was being recruited by Beamer (and other coaches) in high school. Coach Beamer made a personal visit to Harris' home one night when things suddenly went wrong.

A kitchen fire had started. Harris, concerned for his mom and younger siblings, covered the pot which had caught fire on the stove with a blanket and carried it out the back door. Along the way, the fire spread to Harris' arm, burning him badly.

Suddenly, Coach Beamer went from recruiter to father figure. He helped get Harris to the hospital. He comforted him. Encouraged him. Made sure everything was OK. There was also a natural connection that was made because of the accident.

You see, Frank Beamer had also been a burn victim as a young boy, disfiguring his neck and part of his upper body. Beamer was able to use his experiences to encourage the recovering Harris, as well as make an all important "personal connection" that aided his recruiting efforts with Harris. As Harris remembers, "when I was thinking about what college to go to, it was just obvious. I had a connection with Coach Beamer...I wanted to be a part of what he had going at Virginia Tech."

I'm not saying that Coach Beamer used this horrible accident years ago as some kind of veiled recruiting tool. I really believe at that moment of crisis, Beamer was doing what came naturally for him - he just cared about a young man and his circumstances. But it's a great example of what can happen when coaches take the time to become involved in an athlete's life. Really take the time. Not being rushed, not getting to the next prospect on a list...just taking the time to make that personal connection that ends up being the deciding factor for many athletes when they're choosing a program.

I've seen lots of coaches use simple, effective personal techniques at different colleges I've had the opportunity to work with over the years.  Here are some ideas for you to think about:

• Personal letters and notes to mom and dad.
• Inviting their high school coach to practice and then out to dinner.
• Making sure to use their name a lot when they are talking to them (people love hearing their own name spoken by someone else!)
• Surveying them before they come on campus to see what they would want to do and see during their visit.
• Have athletes from other teams come up and introduce themselves during a campus visit.
• A light touch on the arm while speaking with a prospect in person.

Those are just a few random ideas I've seen work wonders for different coaches around the country when we conduct our On-Campus Workshops for athletic departments and coaches.  Do you see how some of these little things could add up to big dividends for coaches who use them? 

Think back to the last five prospects you talked to, Coach. Did you take time to really hear what they are looking for in a college? Did you shoot the breeze for a little while before you dove in to all the great things there are to list about your school? Did you really take some time to make a personal connection with your prospect?

Coach Beamer should be an inspiration to everyone out there who's school isn't located in paradise, or has a much more prestigious competitor down the street, or whose facilities aren't the best in the conference.

Frank Beamer built Virginia Tech using a personal approach to recruiting. You can, too.